Arabic language

Arabic proverbs

Almost every culture has examples of its own unique proverbs. Here are some translated examples from Arabic:

From 88 Arabic Proverbs:

  • Avoid the company of liars, but if you can’t, don’t believe them.

  • The smarter you are, the less you speak.

  • If you’re unable to reward, then make sure to thank.

  • You can’t clap with one hand.

  • Arrogance is a weed that grows mostly on a dunghill.

From Egyptian Arabic proverbs:

  • Repetition teaches (even) a donkey.

  • In his mother’s eye, the monkey is (as beautiful as) a gazelle.

  • The carpenter’s door is falling apart.

  • Trusting men is like trusting water in a sieve.

  • Under the sheikh’s hat is a monkey.

Proverbs from the Saudi embassy in Tokyo:

  • The rope man got mixed with the archer.

  • If you were saved from the lion, do not be greedy and hunt it.

  • If you know, it's a disaster. If you don't know, it's a greater disaster.

  • The neighbour comes before the home.

  • Dawn does not come twice to awaken a man.

From Some Yemeni proverbs:

  • From a pound of talk, an ounce of understanding.

  • Who dies today is safe from tomorrow's sin.

  • If speech is of silver, silence is golden.

  • You play with a snake and call it a worm.

  • If you have honey, don’t lick the pot clean.

From Modern Lebanese proverbs:

  • The son of a son is dear, the son of a daughter a stranger.

  • When your son is young, discipline him; when he grows older, be a brother to him.

  • When the wolf comes for the sheep, the dog goes to defecate.

  • An intelligent deaf-mute is better than an ignorant person who can speak.